Champions face tough start in Foster’s Challenge Cup

Pontypridd coach Gareth Wyatt is confident the Foster’s Challenge Cup will help his club unearth more future Premiership stars this season.

Champions Pontypridd face a midweek trip to Eugene Cross Park in round one of the new-look competition (Wednesday 12 October), followed by further away fixtures against Pool opponents, Premiership newcomers Merthyr and Bargoed this side of Christmas.

“The Foster’s Challenge Cup enabled us to give game time to younger players last season, and players from lower league clubs,” said Wyatt.

“The likes of Bradley Coombes and Hemi Barnes certainly put their hands up for us in the competition last year and by the end of the season were first choice for us. In the past we didn’t always have the chance to blood young players, but the midweek scheduling gives us that opportunity.”

The Foster’s Challenge Cup has been expanded to a 15 club competition to include all Principality Premiership clubs except RGC 1404 due to geographical issues as almost all matches will take place midweek. There are three pools of four and one pool of three, with the winner from each pool progressing to the semi-finals. Foster’s have extended their title sponsorship of the cup competition.

“It certainly won’t be easy to start with three away games,” added Wyatt.

“Eugene Cross Park is never an easy place to go and it will be no different this time around.  We will have to dig in from the start, try to pick up some points on the road and hope that we can push for qualification in our three home games to finish.  It will be interesting to see how other clubs approach the challenge but with a busy fixture schedule, I would expect clubs to give opportunities to young and fringe players.

“I’m sure our supporters will follow us wherever we go as they did last year.”

Foster’s Challenge Cup Fixtures 2016/17 Season
Pool 1
Cross Keys, Newport, Bedwas
Pool 2
Llanelli, Swansea, Carmarthen Quins, Llandovery
Pool 3
Ebbw Vale, Merthyr, Bargoed, Pontypridd
Pool 4
Cardiff, Bridgend, Aberavon, Neath

Round 1 – Wednesday October 12th 2016
Cardiff v Aberavon
Bargoed v Merthyr
Bedwas v Newport
Neath v Bridgend
Llanelli v Carmarthen Quins
Ebbw Vale v Pontypridd
Swansea v Llandovery

Round 2 – Wednesday October 19th 2016
Aberavon v Neath
Ebbw Vale v Bargoed
Bridgend v Cardiff
Carmarthen Quins v Swansea
Newport v Cross Keys
Merthyr v Pontypridd
Llandovery v Llanelli

Round 3 – Wednesday December 7th 2016
Aberavon v Bridgend
Bargoed v Pontypridd
Neath v Cardiff
Llandovery v Carmarthen Quins
Cross Keys v Newport
Ebbw Vale v Merthyr
Llanelli v Swansea

Round 4 – Wednesday 14th December 2016
Bridgend v Aberavon
Merthyr v Bargoed
Bedwas v Cross Keys
Cardiff v Neath
Swansea v Carmarthen Quins
Pontypridd v Ebbw Vale
Llanelli v Llandovery

Round 5 – Wednesday 11th January 2017
Neath v Aberavon
Pontypridd v Bargoed
Newport v Bedwas
Cardiff v Bridgend
Carmarthen Quins v Llandovery
Merthyr v Ebbw Vale
Swansea v Llanelli

Round 6 – Wednesday 18th January 2017
Aberavon v Cardiff
Bargoed v Ebbw Vale
Cross Keys v Bedwas
Bridgend v Neath
Carmarthen Quins v Llanelli
Llandovery v Swansea
Pontypridd v Merthy